When the Spaniards arrived in Huaxyacac they found on this site, a Aztec temple devoted to Centeotl the deity of the corn. It should be remembered that the city was founded by the Aztecs in the year of 1486 and they had built a military garrison on the Hill of the Fortin, and on the lower slopes they established a small Aztec village for the families of the soldiers.

At this time, the first Spanish settlers of the city established sites for Christian worship. One of them was the chapel of Santa Veracruz, located in the same place that was an important pre-hispanic center. The chapel replaced the great Teocalli of Huaxyacac, where each month of July, the indigenous city had celebrated the great Feast of the lords in which there was the sacrifice of a maiden in honor of Centeótl, the goddess of corn and agriculture. The festival was Christianized and transformed in the current holiday of the Guelaguetza or Monday of the Hill, which coincides with the holidays which honor the Virgin of Carmen.

The Spaniards destroyed the pyramid Centeotl and with its stone built a small chapel dedicated to the Santa Vera Cruz. But in the year of 1769, the Carmelite fathers constructed the temple and the convent called 'Carmen Alto', at that time that it was exclusive for Spanish, the other temple called 'Carmen Bajo' was for the mestizos and mulattoes; indigenous peoples had their own temples in the southern part of the city. In the three hundred years of colonial rule the caste system was fierce and very strict.

The convent, about 1856 after the secularization of the properties of the church, passed to the Federal Government and by these times it was occupied by a jail and barracks. In 1889 the bishop Eulogio G acquired and restored it, installing the Episcopal residence. It was also was occupied by a school in 1910 for workers in the evening and a as top primary school.

In 1925 it became again a federal property. Currently, in what was the cloister, are the offices of the Civil Registry. In its other annexes operate schools and federal offices. The temple is distinguished, in relation to other temples of Oaxaca, by its portico, whose function is to prepare for the entry to the main nave.

Girls want to have fun too

Note the tree and all the cinders in the air; and wear eye projection and old clothes.

On the first Sunday in January is the Paradura del Niño Dios (Epiphany). This is celebrated in all catholic churches, but there is a special Calenda (procession) at the Carmen Alto church. The procession winds around downtown and the zócalo and ends at the church. After mass sweets are given to the children. It all ends with a display of fireworks in the Plazuela de Carmen Alto on the south side of the church.

About Me

I must have started out as a very young boy because can't remember anything before about 3. Somehow time flew and now I don't recognize that face in the mirror in the morning. In between not much happened to me that made news.